Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Council for Wisconsin Writers blog is now part of CWW’s redesigned website at http://wiswriters.org/category/news/. Consequently, the blog at this site is being retired. Everyone who follows this blog will have to resubscribe to the blog at its new location. We apologize for this inconvenience, but think that, once resubscribed, followers will find it more convenient because it won’t be necessary to go from one site to another to get CWW news and information.

came out last month. Her launch party will be at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee on Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. All are all invited to come, and feel free to invite friends or family.

Children’s writer JoAnn Early Macken will be among poets reading on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Mount Mary University’s Writers on Writing series. The event will take place in Helfaer Hall (located in Caroline Hall). More details here: http://mtmary.edu/news-events/events/writers-on-writing.html.

Famed children’s author and Madison native Kevin Henkes has done it again. His picture book, Waiting, has been selected by the American Library Association as a Caldecott Honor Book.

Henkes is no stranger to the ALA or Caldecott. In 2005, his Kitten’s First Full Moon won the most coveted Caledcott Medal. His book Owen has also received a Caldecott honor. In addition, his books have also received Newbery and Theodore Geisel honors.

According to a report in the Wisconsin State Journal, Henkes made headlines by being “the only author/illustrator to have won across the categories of Caldecott honors and Caldecott Medal, awarded annually for most distinguished picture book for children; Geisel honors, for distinguished beginning reader books; and Newbery honors, for outstanding contributions to children’s literature.”

Henkes, whose books Lilly’s Purple Purse and Chrysanthemum have become beloved children’s classics, has a new book, When Spring Comes, due out next month and another one titled Eggs to be published next year.

Congratulations to Wisconsin’s native star children’s author!

CWW Awards contest are open for entries until February 1, 2016. Nineteen days, including today, to get those entries in!

The Poetry Rocks Series moves to a different date and location for January (typically held at Copper Rock on the 3rd Monday):

MONDAY, JANUARY 11 (2nd Monday!), 7 pm: Favorite Poem Reading @ Acoca Coffee, 500 W. College Ave, Appleton!Every one is a featured reader — share a favorite poem that is NOT your own! The traditional open mike will follow, so bring one of your own as well.

For more information on the Poetry Rocks series contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net.

********

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 7:00 pm, ETHEL AND TOM DAVIS at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim. On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free. For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

********

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, TIMOTHY WALSH at CARAMEL CRISP, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh at 6:15pm, followed by an open mic. The reading is located in the game room beyond the cafe portion of the building. Please come early and treat yourself to coffee, dessert or other goodies to enjoy during the reading which begins promptly at 6:15. Caramel Crisp closes at 7:30. For further information contact Kay Sanders at rksanders42@gmail.com or Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 7 pm: Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts (THELMA) hosts ALISON TOWNSEND – first poet to receive the UW-Whitewater Chancellor’s Regional Literary Award. FREE event begins with reading in THELMA’s Café 1906 at 51 Sheboygan St., Fond du Lac. An open mic will follow for any others who would like to read. Cash bar will be available. For more information: www.thelmaarts.org or920.921.5410

WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES

*********************************************************

WEDNESDAY, January 6, 6-8 pm, Creative Writers’ Workshop, KRESS FAMILY BRANCH LIBRARY, 333 N. Broadway, De Pere.Support and networking for writers. Bring your original poems or short prose to read, along with copies for critique.

Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2015 is eligible in seven categories, including book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems including at least two published in the contest year; and children’s literature. (Outdoor writing may now be submitted to the long or short non-fiction category).

First-place winners will receive $500 and a week-long writers’ residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point. Honorable mentions will receive $50.

Entries for this year’s Wisconsin Writers Awards must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2016. Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents. The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Out-of-state judges will make the selections. Awards will be presented in a banquet in May 2016.

Nominations are also open for CWW’s Major Achievement Award, of $1000, honoring the work of a Wisconsin writer who deserves special recognition for literary merit. No entry fee is required for the submission of nominating letters, also due by February 1, 2016 (postmark deadline).

CWW also sponsors an Essay Award for Young Writers (1500 word maximum) for Wisconsin high school students; there is no entry fee, and the award is $250 this year for the winning student. Members of the board will judge. Entries for the student essay contest must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2016.

Specific guidelines, entry forms, and important additional information for each award category are available on the awards section of the website, www.wiswriters.org/awards.htm.CWW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of published Wisconsin writers and encouraging an appreciation of Wisconsin writing.

S.If you wish to be removed from this list, let me know.You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Central Fox-Valley Region of the WFOP, or you or someone you know has asked me to include you. I will always blind cc you, so your email address is not shared with others.

The accolades, awards and recognition Wisconsin children’s authors is almost too much to list, but when one gets national recognition, it’s worth a mention. That’s the case with Miranda Paul. The Huffington Post’s Early Childhood Policy Analyst, Writer Minh Le named Miranda’s picture book, Water is Water, the best non-fiction picture book of 2015.

Best Picture Books of 2015

Best Non-FictionWater is Water by Miranda Paul, ill. Jason Chin (Macmillan)

Creative nonfiction at its best. Chin has a confident yet subtle style that brings to mind a modern day Norman Rockwell. Paired with Paul’s rhythmic text, this exploration of the water cycle will not only teach today’s children, but will also serve as a useful refresher for older readers as well.